Sub-program 1.3.2

Forest-based Community Partnerships

Description

Forest sector restructuring has led to mill closures, capacity reductions and job losses in forest-based communities across the country. However, the transitioning forest sector also represents opportunities for communities to participate in a wide-variety of economic development opportunities. Through its Forest Communities Program and the Aboriginal Forestry Initiative, NRCan supports and facilitates community and regional-scale partnership projects and provides financial support to 11 forest-based community partnership organizations and to Aboriginal communities across Canada. The objective is to assist community partnership organizations in developing innovative knowledge products, tools and strategies so that Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal forest-based communities may participate in and benefit from emerging economic opportunities. Projects contribute to capacity building and business development opportunities in areas such as biomass and bioenergy, non-timber forest products, local wood initiatives, forest management, value-added wood products, and providing services to government and industry.